This article is based on my professional pediatric dental experiences over the last forty years, like my previous writings. My goal is to offer you an E.A., EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGE. I hope you enjoy this latest article
All the major medical and dental associations (American Medical Association, American Dental Association, Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) recommend that a child should make their first visit to the dentist at one
year of age. This advice is a proper recommendation and a necessity to provide your child the best possible experience and have a chance to have minimal tooth decay
throughout their childhood. There are several reasons why most parents do not get the correct information regarding the one year of age dental visit.

SECTION I: The Lack of Accurate Information
1.) Research shows that 90% of all dentists practice general dentistry with adult specialties. Thus they are not trained to treat children four years and younger. With that said, it is not their fault. The dental school curriculum only requires them to treat children for six weeks in a controlled children's clinic, and their patients are usually five years of age or older.
2.) Studies reveal that only 50% of all pediatricians recommend a first dental visit at one year of age, even though they are taught the proper recommendation in medical school. Rightfully so, physicians are focused on the medical health of
their patients and rarely look at the child's teeth. They go past the teeth and look at the throat and tonsils. They infrequently ask if the child is bottle or breastfed and the method of each. Breast or bottle feeding in the middle of the night usually
causes significant tooth decay. This knowledge is critical.
3.) Many mothers ask their mothers when they should have the child's first dental visit. The grandmother's response is usually at three years of age because that is what she did. Twenty-five years ago, the recommended first Dental visit WAS 3 years of age. Twenty years ago, the recommendation CHANGED to one year of age. This occurred because of the high sugar content of many baby foods, juices, and formula that have led to the increase of tooth decay in very young children.
4.) Many mothers go to social media and the internet for their information. In other words, they are getting information from their peers who received the same advice from their parents. THE WRONG ADVICE.
5.) Public service announcements (minimal) will tell you to take your child to a dentist at one year of age. The MOST ACCURATE ADVICE is to go to a PEDIATRIC DENTIST at one year of age
There you have it. Misinformation is a huge factor in why tooth decay is the #1 childhood disease in America, and trust me, it is getting worse by the year. I want to suggest that you share this information with your family and friends; it is one way to begin the process of tooth decay remediation.

SECTION II. The Benefits of the One-Year Initial Visit

There are multiple reasons and benefits for your child's initial visit to a pediatric dentist at one year old. All will benefit the child, but more importantly, the PARENT will get the information they need to care for their child correctly.
1.) The child will be examined to evaluate average growth and development, allow for detection of congenital disabilities or problems, and answer any questions or concerns that you, the parent, might have.
2.) The most CRITICAL PART OF THE APPOINTMENT will be to interview the parent and educate them in proper dental health practices at home daily. We will cover the topics of breastfeeding, baby bottle feeding, pacifier usage,
toothbrushing, diet counseling, and food choices. The parent's daily habits at home are the most crucial factor in reducing their child's risk of tooth decay.
3.) We will inquire about the parent's dental history and emphasize that good parental oral health directly affects the child's oral health and vice versa.
4.) Lastly, we will explain why the youngest child in the family will usually have the most tooth decay because they get the most sugar and transfer of tooth decay-causing bacteria from parents and siblings.
Tooth decay is a disease of the family because bacteria are passed from family members to a family member by touching. They were the driving force of creating Dr. Branam's Xylitol Product formulation regarding the reasons outlined above.
The toothpaste and tooth-gels will address the factors that cause tooth decay and dental disease. Most dentists don't know of the benefits of Xylitol because they have not taken the time to educate themselves. Regarding education, these same
dentists have been uneducated as to the benefits of that one-year suggested visit.
I sincerely believe in the one-year dental visit; however, the daily preventive dental practices at home are of paramount importance. If your goal is to have minimal or no tooth decay in your family, I suggest the entire family use Dr. Branam's Xylitol Products. Consistent use at bedtime will produce results that have been verified by the University of Toledo Medical Center clinical trial. The results of the clinical trial can be viewed at the www.drbranamsxylitol.com site.
As a final note, I recommend that you do NOT RINSE YOUR MOUTH after brushing. These fluoride-free products continue to work best when left in the mouth. They are safe and effective for people of all ages, from toddlers to grandparents.
Yours for better dental health for the entire family.
Dr. Steve Branam

I think that many parents do not fully understand how FLUORIDE works and how it benefits the teeth.   Fluoride used alone will reduce tooth decay by 24% as proven in over 400 scientific studies.  If you use my Dr Branam Xylitol products daily in addition to any fluoride tooth paste,  you will increase the reduction in tooth decay in your family to 72%.  Wow, that is significant.   Please remember,  that tooth decay is a disease caused by bacteria that is shared from family members.

1.)  Fluoride only hardens the enamel to resist the effects or oral acid and bacteria 
2.)  Fluoride in the drinking water only hardens the enamel of the tooth while it is forming in your jaw bone.  The baby teeth are forming in your baby before birth.
3.)  It is important for pregnant mothers to drink fluoridated water during pregnancy,  because this fluoride will be transferred to the baby in the uterus.
4.)  Fluoride in the drinking water minimally hardens the enamel of the tooth once it is erupted into the mouth.
5.)  Fluoride in your tooth paste and the Fluoride treatments that are done by your dentist hardens the enamel of your tooth.  The effects or the Fluoride treatment by your dentist "wears off" after about 5 months.  That is why regular dental check ups are recommended. 
6.)   Ideally,  you Do NOT need to drink fluoridated water after 15 years of age,  because the enamel of the crown of your teeth is fully formed.  It is important to drink fluoridated water until you are 15 years of age and younger. 

I am personally not aware of any SCIENTIFIC evidence that Fluoride is harmful to a person's oral or general health.  I am sure that someone can find an article or two that  contradicts these facts. Natural Fluoride has been present in water for centuries.  I have patients who live in rural areas, and the water on their farm actually has a level of Fluoride that is 2 times the recommended concentration. These patients are healthy and developing normally. 

Fluoride does NOT reduce the tooth decay causing bacteria of the mouth.  Fluoride does not raise the PH of the saliva.  Fluoride does not make the surface of the tooth "slick " to reduce the plaque and sugar from adhering to your tooth.   FLUORIDE ALONE HARDENS THE ENAMEL OF THE TEETH.  

DR BRANAM XYLITOL TOOTHPASTE PRODUCTS:
1.)  Raises the PH of the saliva t over 5
2.)  Reduces the tooth decay causing bacteria by 72%
3.)  Makes the tooth surface slick to reduce acid and bacteria adhering to the tooth. 

Be sure to take your child to a PEDIATRIC DENTIST,  because they know how to prevent tooth decay in your child.   You should ask the pediatric dentist if they're  are familiar with the benefits of Xylitol.  Daily usage of Dr Branams xylitol products will reduce the tooth decay rate of your  entire family.   For more information just go to the www.drbranamsxylitol.com  to watch the utube video and order the products. 

Yours for better oral health,   Dr Steve Branam 

I have been contemplating addressing this subject matter for quite some time now.  Unfortunately, too many children have tooth decay early in their lives.  My goal is for your child to grow up looking like the picture below.
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​​I will explain to you why virtually everyone in the world has tooth decay at varying levels.  The Center for Disease Control has determined that tooth decay is America's number one chronic childhood disease.  Yes, it is #1.  There are many reasons that this is reality.
 
Tooth decay is a DISEASE caused by bacteria, which means that tooth decay is not a condition.   
 
Unbeknownst to many, tooth decay is a family disease, and three things will cause tooth decay in a person. 
 
1.)  Your chemistry of saliva is INHERITED.  If a person is born with ACID saliva,  they will be cavity prone.   If a person is born with ALKALINE  saliva, they will be inclined to getting gum or periodontal disease in their mouth as they get older.  You can look for this to occur after thirty years of age.  You have no choice in the chemistry of your mouth, but you can control it to some degree. 
 
2.)  The bacteria levels in your mouth are acquired in the environment.  Everyone has oral bacteria, some of which are beneficial and some are not.  Babies are born bacteria-free.  They get their bacteria from parents, caregivers, and siblings when they touch each other.  This transfer of bacteria occurs innocently and unknowingly because bacteria are invisible, and you live with each other.   
 
3.)  The amount of sugar a person eats determines the severity of tooth decay.   The more sugar consumed, the greater the level of tooth decay if the person has high acid saliva and high bacteria levels.  The amount of sugar given to the child is the parent's choice.   One should always limit sugar intake to moderate or low levels to have minimal tooth decay, have good general health, and reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.  This highlighted sentence is crucial to understand.
These three factors are the primary cause of a person's increased risk for tooth decay.  I tell my patients that you cannot eliminate tooth decay,  but YOU can minimize it with a better diet and daily use of DrBranams Xylitol toothpaste and gels at home. 
 
Here are some bullet points that parents should be aware of:
 
✔      The youngest children in the family will usually have the most tooth decay because they get the most sugar and bacteria.
✔       I encourage all parents to have a minimum of one dental checkup and cleaning every year for themselves to minimize their insufficient bacteria levels, which can be transferred to their children
✔      Parents need to be aware of HIDDEN SUGARS.  There are significant amounts of natural sugar in the following; mother's milk, cow's milk, baby formula,  fruit juices, raisins, fruit snacks, fruit roll-ups, chewing gum, and chewable vitamins.  Be sure to read labels for sugar content and limit their daily intake.
✔      If you allow your child to go to bed with a bottle or sippy cup containing milk or fruit juice, you increase the risk of your loved one getting early tooth decay. 
✔      Mothers who breastfeed their infants or toddlers throughout the night in bed will also increase the risk of tooth decay.
 
 
Now that we have covered what NOT to do, here is a list of things you CAN do if you want to decrease the level of tooth decay in your entire family,
 
●     Use Dr. Branam's Xylitol toothpaste and gels; parents and children alike will have a tremendous benefit from using our clinically tested formulation.
●      Dr. Branams Xylitol products work best when they are left in the mouth.  Do not  spit out or rinse your mouths after using our fluoride-free formula.  This allows the formulation to go to work on the prevention for a more extended period.
●      Always brush your teeth before going to bed. 
●     You should schedule a visit to a PEDIATRIC DENTIST for the first visit at 12 to 15 months of age, regardless of what your pediatrician might say.  Unfortunately, only 50% of all physicians recommend a one year of age visit to a dentist.  You will be happier in the long run taking your child to a pediatric dentist.  Parents should have annual dental checkups and cleanings
 
Dr. Branam's Xylitol products were developed as I saw first-hand the increase in childhood tooth decay. Regular use of Dr. Branam's Xylitol products can reduce tooth decay by 72%. 
 
Dr. Branam's Xylitol products are clinically proven to be three times more effective than Fluoride.  The reason for this astonishing difference is 1) they raise the PH of the saliva to five,  2) they decrease tooth decay-causing bacteria by 72%, and 3) Xylitol is a SAFE sugar that lowers the risk of tooth decay yet meets your child's sugar cravings. 
 
When you brush your teeth with a Fluoride toothpaste alone, the bacteria level is TEMPORARILY reduced but does not change the PH of your saliva.
 
Fluoride in its natural form is very bitter.  Toothpaste containing Fluoride must be heavily flavored to cover up the bad taste, which often causes children not to want to brush their teeth.  Dr. Branam's Xylitol products are naturally sweetened, and children love the flavor when they brush their teeth.
 
In summary, good oral healthcare starts early. It is a family way of life. The daily use of Dr. Branam's Xylitol products will be the most effective way to reduce tooth decay in your entire family. 
 
You can visit Dr. Branam's Xylitol products site at  www.drbranamsxylitol.com, review the clinical study and learn how you can help reduce childhood tooth decay in your family. 
 
The following pictures are like what I see daily.  I have never met a parent that would intentionally want their child to experience an issue like this. 

If you have a specific question that I can help with, please email me at Drbranam@gmail.com
 
Yours for better dental health,   
 
Dr. Steve Branam ​